Speaking of our national anthem, there has been a movement lately to get people to sing or at least know all four verses. The appeal of this idea shrinks the more you read the lyrics to the end.

The words by Francis Scott Key may have seemed right when he wrote them in 1814. They appear less so today.

The first stanza is the one we sing, and it’s all about the gallant flag at dawn, after a bombardment, an inspiring sight.

The second verse gets personal about the “haughty host,” our enemies who, according to the third stanza, are mere hirelings and slaves whose “blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.”

The fourth verse follows that with “Then conquer we must when our cause it is just.” But conquering is out just now.

Let’s just avoid complications and stick with Verse One. (hh)